Abstract

Haemolymph samples were taken from healthy individuals of Astacus astacus and Pacifastacus leniusculus and from individuals suffering from crayfish plague fungus Aphanomyces astaci. A. astacus were infected by exposure to infected P. leniusculus in aquaria, while P. leniusculus originated from either a chronically infected or an uninfected wild population. The study was carried out at a water temperature of +8 - +12°C. Haemolymph samples from A. astacus were taken 2-3 weeks after infection, approximately 2-3 days before the death of the crayfish. The survival time after infection was recorded. Glucose, lactate, total protein, cu2+, ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Na+ and Cl- concentrations and osmolality of the haemolymph were determined. In infected groups of A. astacus the haemolymph glucose, lactate an ca2+ concentrations were higher and Na+, K+ and Cl- concentrations were lower than in uninfected groups. A group infected with both Psorospermium haeckeli and A. astaci showed little difference from groups infected with A. astaci only. Differences in the composition of the haemolymph between infected and uninfected P. leniusculus were slight.

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